EDWARDSVILLE – Observant drivers and shoppers in downtown Edwardsville may have noticed recently that the former Circa store is now Revival.

Lauren Votava is the new owner. She opened the store shortly after Circa closed.

“I used to work for the city of Belleville about 10 years ago,” Votava said. “I shopped at the Belleville Circa location. When she opened in Edwardsville three years ago, I started shopping here.”

The owner of Circa announced that she was closing the Edwardsville store and would be willing to sell the store.

“I started thinking about it and talked to my husband about buying it,” Votava said. “We completed the whole transaction in about a month.”

The store is something new for Votava, who last worked in retail in high school. “I remember thinking that her Belleville store looked like a fun place to work.”

Revival, located at 101 East Vandalia, is still carrying some of the same clothing lines as Circa, but Votava is also adding new merchandise. “We’ll keep a similar style and feel,” she said, “but we’re bringing in additional items. I’m trying to attract more customers, people who weren’t coming in before.”

She said she has a wide variety of customers, from teenagers to retirees. “I have mother and daughter customers that both shop here,” she said.

“We still sell a lot of gift items. We have candles, socks, oven mitts. We still carry Mellow Mountain Jewelry, which is made by Circa’s owner.”

Votava has added Mata Traders. “They are a fair trade company. They used to carry them at Beyond Timbuktu. We’re also carrying Aid Through Trade. I’m also looking into some other local lines.”

The store has exclusive deals with Tokyo Milk and Blue Q. “No other place in the area can carry them,” Votava said.

Votava said the new name was her idea. “I honestly don’t know how. The word revival just popped into my head. One definition of it is a new play on old work, and that seemed to fit.”

Votava has received support from her husband, Ben Poettgen. “He’s worked here on Saturdays and has definitely been my go-to handyman,” she said.

“The amount of support from the community has been great,” Votava said. “I have customers who are happy the store didn’t close, and some have said they love the changes.”

Votava said she has not had any negative surprises. “I surprise myself by not taking everything home.”